Time ranks Farm Forward Board Member Jonathan Safran Foer among the writers who have become a "voice of this generation." The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, and Esquire call him "brilliant." His works have been translated into 30 languages, and his first two novels have sold more than 1.3 million copies. Foer's third book, Eating Animals, is a unique, deeply personal exploration of the issues that arise from factory farming and the alternatives that are available to conscientious consumers. Written in close collaboration with Farm Forward, Eating Animals has found both popular and critical success, and is increasingly being used in the classroom too. (For instance, as of fall 2011 both Duke University and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, have made Eating Animals required reading for all incoming freshmen.) Building on this success, Farm Forward is working with Foer and educators to bring the powerful, relevant message of Eating Animals to even more students across the nation.

Population(s) Served

General Public/Unspecified

Budget

Creating the First Post-Factory-Farm Poultry Supply

Good Shepherd Ranch is a unique network of heritage poultry farmers that includes the nation’s preeminent expert on poultry, Farm Forward Board Member Frank Reese. Good Shepherd Ranch is currently the only nationally available source for poultry products that come from birds who are not genetically engineered and who are raised by traditional, humane, and sustainable methods. The ranch has served as the model for animal welfare standards developed by several nonprofit groups. Today, Good Shepherd Ranch can only supply a small number of turkeys, ducks, and geese to a select few, but, with pro-bono assistance from Farm Forward Consulting, Good Shepherd Ranch is on the verge of becoming the first—and only—national producer of truly humane, sustainably raised chickens and turkeys.

Population(s) Served

General Public/Unspecified

Budget

Encouraging Best Auditing Practices for Improved Animal Welfare

Farm Forward CEO Steve Gross has helped lead successful negotiationsbetween animal advocacy groups and some of the nation's largestcompanies—including Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, Safeway, andWhole Foods—which have improved the lives of hundreds of millions ofanimals. Gross is currently working with animal advocacy groups such asGlobal Animal Partnership, The Humane Society of the United States, andPETA to address the urgent need for increased auditing to ensure thatcompanies properly implement animal welfare improvements following anegotiation. Experience has shown that auditing, which is oftenneglected, is a crucial part of real progress in chipping away at themost troubling methods of factory farming.

Population(s) Served

Adults

Budget

Offering Low-Cost Consulting to Animal Welfare Groups

Asa recognized authority on farmed animal welfare, Farm Forward is increasinglybeing sought out by animal advocacy groups likethe ASPCA (American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and GAP(Global Animal Partnership), as well as high-welfare farms like Good ShepherdPoultry Ranch, forconsultation on a host of matters, including organizational farmed animalpolicy development; marketing, financial, and information technology services;and in-depth research of current trends in farmed animal welfare.

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Board of Directors

as of
6/15/2012

Board Chair

Steve
Gross

No Affiliation

Jonathan Crane
No Affiliation

Bruce Friedrich
No Affiliation

Ian Duncan
No Affiliation

Jonathan Foer
No Affiliation

Frank Reese
No Affiliation

Bernard Rollin
No Affiliation

John Mackey
No Affiliation

Steve Gross
No Affiliation

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Board Leadership Practices

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader
in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section,
which enables organizations and donors to transparently share information
about essential board leadership practices.

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

BOARD ORIENTATION & EDUCATION

Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations?

Not Applicable

CEO OVERSIGHT

Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive
within the past year?

Not Applicable

ETHICS & TRANSPARENCY

Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and
completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year?

Not Applicable

BOARD COMPOSITION

Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that
results in diversity of thought and leadership?

Not Applicable

BOARD PERFORMANCE

Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance
within the past three years?